Les Misérables

Partly inspired by the violence that erupted in the Paris suburbs in 2005, this edge-of-your-seat thriller was one of the most popular films at last year’s FilmColumbia Festival. It portrays three cops struggling to keep peace among warring factions in one neighborhood. They make an arrest that threatens to set off an all-out war. The strife in the streets is mirrored by the venomous dislike the cops express for one another. Nominated for the Palme d’Or and winner of the Jury Prize at Cannes.

“[Director Ladj] Ly’s considerable skill aside, what makes Les Misérables such an immersive experience is the crackling sense of authenticity that is the film’s birthright.” —
Kenneth Turan, L.A. Times

“Victor Hugo would watch this film and weep.” —
Anthony Lane, New Yorker